Mission Chinese...etc., etc., etc.

Summer has ended and fall is here, so much has transpired since our last communiqué.  The following will be just an eclectic melange of randomness.  Sorry for those interested in a linear narrative but anyone who knows me well knows that I suffer from date dyslexia.

It's true, Mission Chinese, also known as Lung Shan Restaurant, has lived up to the reputation perpetuated by the soul patch wearing, fedora donning,  Mission hipsters.  We finally ate at the little store front restaurant that could and does!  The ambiance?  Crowded and cramped with a funky eclecticism.  The music?  Definitely Spotify Chill mix. My favorite dish was the appetizer peanuts and the appetizer pickled vegetables.  Both were really outstanding.

After Mission Chinese?  Why ice cream of course.  We almost made the mistake of trying to wait in the Bi-Rite Ice Cream shop line...way too long for an icy confection in a city with rarely a warm day.  So we went to Humphry Slocomb.  Excellent choice by far.  The flavors ranged from Black Sesame to Secret Breakfast (Bourbon and Corn Flake).  Odd flavors but delicious none the less.  After that, Vanilla seems so...well, um, Vanilla.

When last we left, many summer adventures were on the horizon for our intrepid blogger...so a quick review of some of those adventures.  We dragged ourselves for a mini vacay to "Lazy Bear" in Guerneville on the Russian River.  This is a weekend for thousands upon thousands of Gay Men who have quite frankly just let themselves go and have created a whole subculture around big hairy unkempt men.  Yes, I know I have just participated in the ultimate reductionism but my blog, my rules. Added to that, I actually really like the Bear community, super nice guys!

Yosiell shocked at the debauchery at the pool party.  

A Nattie Light in a Lil' Hustler Coozie,  could there be any better reminder of our revered Southern friends, Med and Bill.

During the weekend, I attended two hikes with about 70 other people.  Lots of fun!  I never tire of the redwood majesty!

My favorite part was watching all the muscle bound gym bears struggle with the minimum amounts of cardio required to climb a hill.  Shaden freud?  You betcha!

 The second hike was along the coast.  Beautiful but overcast.  Kinda eerie in a Kate Bush Way. 

Soon after the weekend, anniversary and birthday festivities rolled around.  For our anniversary, we went to the Claremont in Berkeley and enjoyed small plates off the menu, each one paired with a wine tasting.  Although the food was absolutely terrific, pairing with the wine set us over the top.  The price tag was moderate for Bay Area standards but probably could feed a family of four by any other standards (just a little bit of the first world guilt shining through).  

Creme Brûlée!  My all time favorite dessert...side note: on most weekend evenings, there is a Creme Brûlée food truck in the Castro...what a civilized town! 

Becky and Tom, treated Rusty and I to mixology lessons.  We went to a class on how to make several different drinks.  I guess this is what is meant by being a lifelong learner!  We were in the very back of the class where the Juvenile Delinquent kids typically sit.  Awesome Birthday present.  

Speaking of incredible presents, Yosiell painted this as a birthday present.  At first I thought it looked like a Peter Pan Lost Boys type of image but someone else said more like Lord of the Flies...either way, it's incredible.  

Speaking of Birthday surprises, Monique and Lance dragged us yet again to the wine country and treated us to a few bottles of liquid sunshine, and a hearty lunch!  California living sometimes does not suck! 

Rusty with a mild bubbly buzz!  The sparkling wine at Viansa is not bad. 

On my actual Birthday, we went to the Jean Paul Gautier show at the De Young Museum.  Talk about visual over-stimulation...my eyes were aching afterward.  The mannequins all had faces projected on them that actually moved and talked...cool but creepy!

My favorite of course, Gautier fashions photographed by pierre et gilles.  

Madonna's touring Bustiere!  Side Note:  I was recently dragged to another Madonna concert, the MDNA Tour.  The concert was great, but the doors opened at 8PM and she didn't start until 10:30PM. She apparently doesn't know the average age of her audience.  Before the concert though we went to a place recommended by our neighbor Judy called Henry's Hi-Life...pretty much steak, baked potato and salad...it was featured one time on the television show, Man vs. Food.  It was old school and perfect!

Somewhere in there we managed to take our two favorite boys to the symphony to see the Wizard of Oz.  The movie ran as the symphony played the entire score.  It was really fun to watch with the symphony.  Before that we took the boys to a small restaurant that specializes in Carnival Food.  The best thing on the menu was the mini corn dogs...one of the boys had a hamburger with cheese squished between two donuts...I'm pretty sure that delicacy won't be going mainstream anytime soon.  The fried candy bars were a delicious ending to our the heart attack inducing feast!

Well folks, that brings us up to the start of school.  After school started most activities came to a screeching halt as I focused on being the new guy!    Perhaps our most exciting moment this year as a school was the day the Space Shuttle Endeavor flew over.  We had two people on our gym roof trying to spot as the shuttle approached.  We managed to do a full school all call just before the shuttle arrived and managed to get all students out on the field or blacktop for this momentous occasion.  The shuttle flew directly overhead!  What good fortune.  A really good omen for the school year if you ask me!  

Rusty was on the Golden Gate Bridge at the time and also took some fabulous photos.  The photos are much more professional looking...very cool. 

Pure Awesomeness!

Farewell shuttle program...you inspired us to dream of stars and moons and  things greater than ourselves!

October, of course, is all about the Pumpkin.  We took a quick trip to Castro Valley for the Pumpkin Patch and purchased way over priced pumpkins, on the way back the local Safeway was selling pumpkins for about a third of the price...curses!  It is statements like that keep moving me ever closer to crotchity old man status.  

 We also decided to take a Saturday trip to the Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Festival.  People, people, and more people!  Ugggg.  A miserable time was had by all.  The highlight was seeing massive Jaba the Hut type pumpkins splayed out on old mattresses.  I used my WordArt app to put a nice spin on a day filled with bad art, mediocre country music and passable food.  Never Again!

Other news, Di Drew has turned 40 Years old...in honor of this we are trying to arrange a trip next summer to Oz...let us know if you are interested.  Miss you all and we shall see our North Carolina homies this Thanksgiving...

June, Where's the Gloom? Oh, It Was in July the Whole Time

The cleaning crew members were finished and the campus was completely quiet.   The computer and paper files had been cleaned out, the books were packed and personal belongings were already gone.  The office stood empty with only the over sized office furniture remaining.  Bittersweet memories came flooding back as the alarm was set and the door was locked for the final time.  One puts massive amounts of time and energy into this job and to walk away quietly on the final day seems almost ironic considering how person intensive schools are normally.  

Although school leadership is a group endeavor, the school principal position on a site is a burden and a joy shared by no others.   As a man consumed with humility, suffering through good bye parties having others congratulate you and expounding your accomplishments is a little overwhelming.  After all of the good bye parties, presents and cards, leaving a school is exceptionally lonely.  I am exceptionally grateful for all of the kind words, the nifty gifts and the parties.

My staff presented me with a home made quilt, home made pillow to match and an avocado tree to plant in my backyard to always be reminded of my Marshall school family.  All will be happy to know, the tree is still going strong.  

OK, enough waxing poetically.  I am beginning to feel the excitement of starting at a new school and with new grade levels.  Middle school will present particular challenges but I am ready for the change.   Although leaving one school and starting another makes for a short summer, I've managed to squeeze in some local fun.  Below are a few of the random activities happening here at Casa Walt and Rusty.

Keiko has had her annual haircut.  June was sunny and at times downright hot.  Very unusual for June to not be shrouded in fog and drizzle.  

The "Train" concert in San Francisco.  I enjoy the music of "Train" but had no idea the concert would be a magnet for every douchebag in the Bay Area.  The only thing worse than the level of douche-baggery was the level of bimbo women they are dating and their bff's.  While there though, the host of "Flip the Trip" from the travel channel was there as well.  So, if you see the episode, look for me in the audience!  By the way, I'm not considering this my Warhol-esque twenty minutes of fame...I still get mine I think.  

Yosiell and I went to the Jelly Belly factory and took the tour on a sunny and quiet day.  I know we were supposed to be waching candy production but I think they were more interested in serving up cheesy-ness.  

Yosiell contemplating a new medium after seeing this amazing Jelly Bean made masterpiece.  

In June, Janice and Keven, Di's parents, came for a visit.  We dragged them on our trademarked "Wanker Tours" and eventually ended up at Twin Peaks on a beautiful spring day. 

A Panoramic view of downtown San Francisco from Twin Peaks. 

The Avette Brothers concert at the Greek in Berkeley.  Awesome evening.  My absolute favorite performers.  These boys are super high energy infusing Traditional North Carolina Mountain music with a punk edge.  

The Four Season's Hotel brunch is truly the most civilized way to catch the "Gay Pride" Parade.  Three words, "Bottomless Bloody Mary's".  The parade itself lasts forever and requires the stamina of a marathon runner to catch the whole thing.  This brief snippet was more than enough for me to feel like I get to keep my gay card. 

Sam and Yosiell enjoying a refreshing beverage with a Sister after the trauma of the festival.

My newest tattoos after the festival.  Gotta love Photo Apps.  

Rusty and I were invited to a bachelor Party for our good friend Tom Lester.  It was an evening of Beef, Booze, and Boobs.  The Beef was at Harris Steak House, an old school steak house with a hefty price tag but well worth the expense.  

Vera, our hostess for the evening, ordered a picture worthy lobster.  The groom in the background viewing the lobster with a wary eye.  

After the Beef, on to the Booze.  Polk Street.  who knew Polk Street has changed from a gay mecca to straight meat market heaven.  Each of the bars on Polk Street boast some sort of taxidermied animal.  

Pheasant at McTeague's Saloon. 

This past weekend was filled with wedding fesivities.  Becky Maciel and Tom Lester entered married bliss and a ready made family.  This is a picture of the bride with the most handsome guest at the wedding. 

Tom at the reception.

Vera, ready for dancing. 

The three stooges.  Nick, Nick and Nick. 

The family first dance.  Lovely.

Not bad for middle aged pasty white guys. 

The day after the wedding, a bit of wine tasting. This is Ledson Winery...a castle circa mid 1990's.  Not quite the 1,000 year old castles seen in Europe but impressive none the less.

And so that's it folks, good times here in the golden state.  I've finally bitten the bullet and had to purchase reading glasses.  I guess I'm suffering mid 40's disease just like everyone else.  A few more activvities in the near future before beginning on my middle school adventure.   Hopefully another post.  by the way, my current favorite quote from a movie, "Blogging isn't being a writer, it's graffiti with punctuation."  Keep posted for all the news.